Daniel Losquadro decision delayed by Brookhaven ethics panel

The Brookhaven ethics board decided not to act Tuesday on a complaint by a Democratic activist against Republican town highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro.

The board will not meet again until Nov. 26, meaning it will not rule until after Election Day on a complaint alleging Losquadro improperly used town employee records to invite highway workers to a July 30 campaign fundraiser.

Losquadro, who is facing a challenge from Democrat Lori Baldassare, denies wrongdoing.

The complaint was filed in August by Setauket resident and state Democratic committeeman Barry McCoy, a Baldassare supporter. In his letter, which was notarized on Aug. 28, McCoy said Losquadro "used town employee's personal information (their mailing addresses and phone numbers) to solicit for political activities."

A flier inviting donors to the fundraiser, a copy of which Baldassare supplied to Newsday, offered tickets ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. A note attached to the flier offered a "committee/employee" rate of $75, though it is not clear for whom those tickets were intended. Donors were instructed to make checks payable to Losquadro's campaign.

In an interview, Losquadro acknowledged some town employees had been invited to the fundraiser, a clam bake and barbecue at Baiting Hollow Golf Club. He said his campaign committee had the workers' addresses because the employees previously had volunteered to work for his re-election. He denied using town records to obtain the addresses.

"It was preposterous," he said of McCoy's allegations. "I personally have never called or asked any of my employees to contribute."

The ethics board discussed McCoy's complaint at its Sept. 24 meeting, said Kyle Markott, the board's executive director. The board asked McCoy for more information and said it likely would not rule on the complaint without a response from McCoy, said Markott, who is not a board member. The board agreed Tuesday to again ask McCoy to buttress his allegations.